OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan men's basketball team fell to NYIT on Friday night 94-84 despite holding a 16 point lead in the second half.
 
The Redhawks have now lost six straight games and drop to 14-12 overall and 7-10 in the East Coast Conference.
 
Roberts seemed to have the game in hand on Friday night as the team steadily built a 16 point cushion in the second half with under 10 minutes to play. But after getting to that 16 point lead the Bears used an 18-4 run to tighten the score within two points with 1:53 to play.
 
With 18 seconds left in the game Jeffrey Hayden went to the free throw line for NYIT with the Redhawks up 76-74. Hayden knocked down his first but missed the second. The ball was knocked around following the second free throw landing back in Hayden's hands for the easy layup to give the Bears a 77-76 lead.
 
With the ball in the Redhawks' hands for the final possession of the game Isaiah Lewis drove to the basket and was fouled with three seconds remaining. Lewis missed the first, but connected on the second to tie the game at 77-77 and send the contest into overtime.
 
In overtime it was all Hayden and the NYIT Bears. Hayden scored 10 points in the extra period to help the Bears outscore Roberts 17-7. Hayden finished the game with 35 points and 22 rebounds.
 
Manny Joseph posted a double double for the Redhawks with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Peyton McLaurin was the leading point scorer for Roberts with 16 points.
 
Free throw shooting became the nemesis of the Redhawks, especially in the second half when the team was just 10-of-20 from the line. In total the Redhawks were 14-of-26 (53%) from the charity stripe.
 
The Redhawks will look to rebound in the final game of the season against LIU Post. As Roberts looks to end their losing streak the team will also be in position to earn a home play-in game with a win against the Pioneers on Sunday.